Boethius' childhood is shrouded in mystery. There is no record of his birth, and his parents have never been found. It is suspected that he was born somewhere on the border between Lenfald and Loreos. When he was only 2-3 days old he was found, abandoned, on a trade route in between Lenfald and Loreos by a trade caravan headed north. His adoptive father was the head of the same trade caravan that found him, a man by the name of Balbinus. Balbinus was traveler in his youth. He wished to see the four corners off all the lands. With these travels he grew wise, and saw opportunity in what he loved the most. He started a trade caravan with less than 5 men. Slowly, but steadily his caravan grew in size, and wealth. He gained the trust of the citizens and merchants in all four lands. He became one of the greatest caravan merchants the realm had ever scene. But with growing prosperity, grew growing hatred. As his wealth grew, others shrank. Unknowingly he had established a monopoly. One day one of his main caravans, over 500 men and 300 carts, was met by a force almost as large, estimated to be at least 450 men total, of bandit clans, hired mercenaries, and angered enemies. They attacked out of cold blood. The caravan made a stand for 2 days total, but was looted and burned. There were little survivors from the caravan. Balbinus was angered, but sought to settle things peacefully, for there had already been too much blood shed. He found the camp of the opposing force, and met with their leaders. He offered jobs, gold ...anything, and almost everything to stop their hatred. Some of the clans accepted and worked for him. This only angered the more loyal followers. Only 3 years later, massive gorilla attacks were waged on all of Balbinus' caravans over a week’s time. All his time, money, and honor faded within a week’s time. He became bitter, and raised his son in hatred for the bandits who took his pride away from him. He sought revenge, and became the thing that he despised the most, a powerful band of thieves whose soul goal was to destroy and loot. Balbinus died when Boethius was only 19 by a loyal assassin from one of the original bandit clans. The young, but wise was Boethius was skilled in the ways of travel, warfare tactics, and thievery. Boethius became head of the again wealthy family. But he not only wanted wealth, but revenge for his father's death.

He found refuge just outside "The Shade" near the Loreos border. He became known as Boethius the Exiled since his home is located on a small mountain that is hard to access unless the known paths are found.

I went a little bit over-board, but I think my back story will give me flexibility in many of the challenges.

Princess Loreainne Storm of LoreosKnown as: The Warmonger, Bloodshade, The Desert Mistress, The Crimson Viper, (and more)Background: Princess Loreainne was interested in war since she was a child, and has studied the art of war in all its facets for as long as she's been alive. She was recognized for her capabilities as a warrior and a leader and grew to be a respected Princess because of it, although she has a notorious reputation built on the blood of her enemies. Character: She's a proud patriot who is hateful of non-Loreesi, seeing them as nothing but threats to Loreos' well-being and obstacles in the way of expansion. If you're Loreesi, she's kind as can be, although she'd expect a lot out of you. If you're not, you'd better stay out of her sight. Loreainne spends most of her time hunting outlaws across the plains of Loreos and guarding the border, hoping a full-scale assault will come. When she's not doing that she's often helping a hand, riling up the populace for a war. Loreainne firmly believes in the glory of warfare and believes asserting military dominance over another to be the prime goal and highest virtue a nation can achieve.

On the grasslands near the border with Lenfald lives the Skuda (literally: "Those Who Ride") peoples. They are a hardy nomadic horse people, and as such are looked down on by many of the noble Loreesi families who consider them little better than barbarians.

This is not helped by many of the Skuda customs: living in felted yurts they have little use for stone buildings (excepting their religious temples); also they follow shamans who tell of the prominence of the "Lord of the Horizon" - a capricious Sky Father who watches over the Skuda people and demands animal sacrifices at his mountainside temples to keep contented.

Unsurprisingly for a people whose livelihood is centred on horses, the leader of the Skuda is known as the "Great Horsegiver" - a title which the leader would be wise to take literally. The Skuda value horses above all else and will only follow a leader who is successful enough to give gifts of horses to his bondsmen.

The Skuda do not follow primogeniture - on the death of one Great Horsegiver the next one is chosen from amongst the strongest of his bondsmen. Often this is the most successful Skuda general and his prominence is typically decided by the killing of the other candidates.

The present Great Horsegiver of the Skuda is Giscu-uru (the suffix -uru denotes a Lord). Giscu-uru is a moderniser who wishes to raise the profile of the Skuda amongst the other Loreesi houses. As such, he wears more contemporary armour and uses the latest Loreesi equipment. He tries to encourage his bondsmen to equip their riders in a similar manner - and despite a combination of raiding and trade he is making slow progress with the conservative Skuda leaders.

To integrate the backward Skuda into Loreesi culture Giscu-uru is constructing a great capital on the plains known as "Civus Skudae". Although the Skuda are scornful of walled cities and staying one place too long (for their herds of horses eat all the surrounding grass) Giscu-uru is slowly winning over his people to his very modern vision.

Shown here is Giscu-uru (left) in his Loreesi armour and showing his steel broadsword accompanied by his standard-bearer Bajik (centre) and general Sabur-uru (right). Bajik and Sabur-uru are Giscu-uru's most trusted bondsmen and dress in the Skuda custom of a silk shirt, carry the curved cavalry swords which the Skuda are famous for, and ride painted horses denoting their high status.

Neal Alistair is a brave knight from the kingdom of Loreos. He is one of the seven sons of a humble Loreesi farmer and a misterious woman, that came to his city one time and then, just appeared one year later with a small baby. Neal was raised by his father and his older brothers, Leon and Artur, the only ones he knows. The others have been missing since he can remember. When he was 9 years old, a noble from a distant city saw a great potential in his eyes and took him to the capital city of the kingdom, where Neal learned how to fight with swords and lances, axes and maces, bows and arrows. He became a great skilled soldier and started to serve as a knight of the Loreos Army. Above, Neal meets a scout from a nearby city in the middle of Loreos desert. Where was he going? Well, I guess we'll find out soon.

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I hope you like my story! And sorry for any grammar mistake! All hail Loreos!

Athalus is the third son of a minor nobleman of Garheim. In search of fame and wealth, he left his fathers estate and headed south. After a few years of adventure, he was sommoned by Jhirian Eindrik, and was offered a small group of soldiers to patrol the border of Garheim and Lenfald, in exchange for knighthood and the small estate of Southcliff. He gladly accepted.

In the North-western region of Loreos near the mountains and along the North Western Grassland is the location of the Mor-Renuii Cities that extend to the Island to the West or Loreos. The Mor-Renuii originating from clans developed into a civilized people whose old clans eventually became the Patri-Familia who act as the ruling bodies of the Mor-Renuii culture within Loreos. The Mor-Renuii adhere to the King's laws, but live within their society as if they were a republic. Like many who live in Loreos they are loyal to the cause, but do not believe in royal titles for their Patri-Familia, instead they elect members of the society to represent them as Consul only based upon their abilities to fight and lead.

Although many Patri-Familia have represented the Mor-Renuii culture within Loreos as Consul, only the Patri-Xavier have remained as the most prominant and often elected rulers of the people. As such, they were granted by the King Lordship over the lands (Lord Regent of the Mor-Renuii). Although this may be understood by the Patri-Xavier as a right, they also understand that for their people this is a right that must be earned so that in most cases the title is a hollow title to them, until through acts of great leadership and honour their are elected as Consul by the Mor-Renuii.

The 118th Consul, Arturius Xavier understands this the most, that not only does he represent a portion of Loreos, he represents his people. It is his duty as Commander of the 7th, to not only bring his people's armies for Loreo's to war if called up, but to adhere to the King's laws, as well as hold the traditions his people have vested in him through his election.

Arturius is both an honourable warrior and politician as well as a skilled tactician who believes that the best defense is a good offense. He will bring the full force of the 7th Brigade to war, along with the many Legions of Soldiers that his people represent for the Loreos cause.

Arturius's people do not hold a particular province within Loreo's but rather a region that is much like a nation within the Loreo's lands. The Mor-Renuii have internal seperate provinces to represent regions for military development, agriculture and resource extraction to support the various economies of Loreos.

The capital of the Mor-Renuii within Loreos is Morastius-Renu, a great city surrounded by irrigated farms from the mountain streams and is located near the Northwestern part of Loreos on the dry - grassland.

Arturius often has been noted to lead Battalions directly into combat and treats all outlaws, brigands of any sorts as enemies of the state (Punishment by Mor-Renuii Culture Law = Death).

Last edited by Mattiusxavier on Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Douglas MacCale is descended from a long line of Lenfel warriors, each of whom has honorably and valorously led the MacCale clan in battle. Douglas has built a mixed force of pikesmen, archers, and light horse into an able fighting machine. Here, he inspects a pikesman on an island outpost.

Reymor Irruini is the son of a lord owning an estate bordering to Garheim. The estate consists of mountainous forests and a few small villages. The centre of the estate is the Irruini manor, an old structure built on a large rock next to the garheim border. From here Reym's old father runs the peaceful estate and so have his ancestors for over a hundred years. Reym has one older brother who is the heir of the estate and a few younger siblings. Not being particularly interested in fighting, Reym spends most of his time exercising the mind and helping his family run the estate. The main export item of the estate is a special mineral found only in that area and a few far away places in Roawia, but the people of the Irruini estate mostly keep to themselves and trade doesn't play an important role in most people's lifes.